Aftermarket Headend Replacement

[Spudster]

I currently have a 2016 Jeep Renegade that has a Kenwood DMX47-K1 installed in it. I do not know what brand of iDatalink Maestro interface was used when it was installed by a previous owner. All of the steering wheel controls work as they should. The headend has gone bad as I get weak OTA radio, the other functions work. I would like to swap out that headend with another but have no idea if there is one available that would be just a "plug-n-play" install using the current interface. Anyone have any suggestions on what would be a good replacement? Thanks!

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[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

I would like to swap out that headend with another but have no idea if there is one available that would be just a "plug-n-play" install using the current interface. Anyone have any suggestions on what would be a good replacement? Thanks

I would first check if the antenna is plugged in. Kenwoods are quality radios, so I do not think it is a radio issue.
As for plug&play, any other Kenwood or JVC that has the steering wheel control feature should work.

 

[Spudster]

I would first check if the antenna is plugged in. Kenwoods are quality radios, so I do not think it is a radio issue.
As for plug&play, any other Kenwood or JVC that has the steering wheel control feature should work.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

May be worth calling up Crutchfield if you can't just get yours to work. Most of those big name manufacturers use the same pigtail harness for all their head units through many model years so odds are if you buy a new Kenwood you'd just pull the plug from the back of the old one and pop it into the new one and you'd be good to go. Remotes are generally widely interchangeable as well.